According to a study published in the November issue of the Journal Clinical Investigation, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco have discovered the link between stress and skin infections. Their theory goes something like this:
How stress effects skin
Psychological stress causes your body to increase production of chemicals called glucocorticoids. The glucocorticoids then decrease synthesis of fatty materials in the skin’s upper layer. Without these fatty materials, antimicrobial peptides aren’t properly secreted to the skins surface. And without the bacteria-fighting power of these peptides, microbes are able to grow unchecked, thus creating an infection. Get it? More stress = more chance of infection.
This prompts another question in my mind: are antibacterial lotions and cleansers
Wouldn’t you love to know exactly when your skin needs extra protection? Someone should make a lotion that changes color or something to signal you that you need an extra shot of antibacterial protection. How cool would that be??
–Midbrain
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
i completely agree with you on the last bit!
That would be amazing!! A face mask/cleanser that could communicate!!!
I think that’s a long way off though! But what do i know?!!! xxx
yes it is true i have found out that stress can be a very big factor when it comes to fighting diseases.
It seems that there has been a connection between stress and health. This is just one more piece of evidence for the connection.
How true! When I am stressed, my eczema tends to get worse.
I have had some issues lately that made me upset and sure enough, along with eating foods I shouldn’t, out comes the eczema!!
Can someone invent somethign to alleviate stress in our lives? lol
buenos dias,
Lynnette
I would not use anti-microbial soaps to counter this problem.
With the rise of drug-resistant bacteria we all need to be alarmed. Why are bacteria becoming resistant and why should we be concerned? Nearly one in five pneomococci, the bacteria responsible for many pneumonias, is resistant to penicillin. This is not a theory, it is a problem that has arrived.
The good news is that we all can play a role in helping ease the antibiotic crisis by becoming more smart at home. Avoid using “antibacterial” cleaning and consumer products as research suggests they do not prevent infections when used at home. Use antibiotic creams ONLY when cuts leave visible dirt or grime. Washing thouroughly with soap and water is usually sufficient.
Doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics for viral infections just “to be safe” or at our (the patients) request; however, antibiotics only help bacterial infections. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic but ask you to take it only if certain symptoms or conditions develop. Follow those directions. If you need an antibiotic, ask for a drug that will target the likely bacteria, not a broad spectrum medication which is often much more expensive and unnecessary. Always make sure you finish your course of antibiotics if given a prescription. If you do not finish it, the bacteria treated often survive and thus develop resistance to the prescribe antibiotic creating “superbugs” we are now know them.
The bottom line:
Relieve your stress with know stress relieving technigues and strategies, and remove any antimicrobial products from your home. Effective hand washing has been proven to beat infections before they start and don’t forget to keep your hands away from your eyes, mouth and nose.
To stress free living!
Monica